There are just a few basic craps rules to learn, even though it may seem a little like learning a foreign language to beginning players. These simple rules are standing between you and the most exciting casino game in the world! This is an introductory tutorial for beginners with basic rules, bets and a little advice about what you can expect when you approach the table and join in on your first craps game.
At its core, craps really is a simple, straightforward game. The game is played with a pair of dice, the dice have six sides with number values from 1 to 6. With the pair, the lowest number possible to roll is a 2, the highest is 12.
Within the potential combinations, the number 7 is the most frequently rolled, statistically, among the 36 total combinations. Craps, like all casino games, is fundamentally a game of odds.
The fundamental goal of craps is to establish a ‘point’ number in the first roll of the dice. This first roll is called the ‘come out roll.’ Once the point number is established, the goal is for the shooter, the person throwing the dice, to roll the point number before rolling a 7.
The ‘pass line bet’ is the first possible wager to make in a game of craps. This pass line bet is the most popular wager in craps games, because of the simplicity and also the odds for winning this bet.
Before the come out roll, players will put their bet on the pass line strip, which runs along the edge of the craps table. The pass line bet wins automatically if the shooter rolls a 7 or an 11. Rolling the numbers 2, 3, or 12 is an automatic loss, called ‘craps’, on a pass line bet. If any of the other number combinations – 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 – are rolled, that number will become the point number and the second round, or state, begins.
There are two possible states (rounds) that a craps game can be in. The first, described above, is the come out round. The other state is referred to as the ‘point round.’ This is the round where the shooter must roll the point number before a 7.
If you are not sure which round a craps game is in when you approach a table, a good way to tell is to find the ‘puck’ on the craps table. The ‘puck’ will be turned to the ‘on’ side or the ‘off’ side. If the puck is on the ‘off’ side then the game is in the come out roll. If the puck says ‘on’ and is placed on the board, then the game is in the point round.
In addition to the pass line bets, players can wager on the ‘don’t pass bets’ line, a thin strip above the pass line bets section. A don’t pass bets is betting on the exact opposite occurrence of the pass line bet. A person betting on the don’t pass bets is considered to be betting against the other players and is referred to as ‘wrong bettor.’ Opposed to this, players that bet with the table and the shooter are considered ‘right bettors.’
It is important to realize that some craps games can become very lengthy if the shooter doesn’t role a 7 or the point during the second round. And once a pass line bet has been placed on the table, it cannot be removed until the point round is concluded by a win or loss.
That wasn’t too difficult, was it? Those are the fundamental bets and rules for craps! You now know a well kept craps secret. Even though the craps table and game may appear intimidating, the game is one basic bet, two dice in two rounds with lots of extra factors that make it seem much more complex than it is.
Once you’ve mastered the pass line bet, you can begin to learn the other betting possibilities. You can find a breakdown of all the possible bets in craps here.
It’s time for you to discover the thrill of playing craps! The best way for beginners to learn the game of craps is to actually play the game! Rookie players don’t need to wait for the off hours in brick-and-mortar casinos any longer to join a practice demo table. The online casino craps games are a great way to increase your comfort and familiarity level with the game. Practice the game at the online casinos and pretty soon, you’ll be the consummate craps player , implementing strategies into your play, wagering on all the various betting options and helping teach the next generation of craps newcomers!
